(GISBORNE, Sept. 4) - It’s all hands on deck this week as Gisborne prepares for the arrival of two containers full of sculptures headed for the Beijing Olympic Sculpture Exhibition.
Over 500 concrete pavers are being positioned, 80 flags hoisted, posters pasted and 210 metres of security fencing installed to ensure all is ready for the arrival of the110 sculptures on Saturday. Then it will be a race against time to have each sculpture inspected by MAF staff, condition reported by art curators and then placed on top of their metal plinth in time for Sunday’s 5pm ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Rose Garden reserve.
Exhibition curator Nick Tupara says staff from Gisborne District Council, Tairawhiti Museum and Toihioukura are working together to display the sculptures in the most aesthetically pleasing way.
“Much time has gone into designing how the sculptures will best sit together. They will form a koru design when viewed from above.
“Each sculpture will sit on its own metal plinth, in which they are shipped, and on charcoal-coloured concrete pavers, kindly donated by Aitkens Concrete for the exhibition’s three week duration.”
Earlier this week (Monday) about 10 Toihoukura students were taught new skills to enable them to better assist with the condition reporting of artworks as they are unpacked from their metal cases. Condition reporting is a requirement of receiving any artwork for display.
“The students took part in a workshop with Tairawhiti Museum curator Jolene Douglas, Toihoukura’s Simon Lardelli and myself in which they learned about digital reporting, what to look for and what to write about in a condition report.”
Reports are again prepared for each artwork during and at the end of the exhibition to ensure they are in the same condition as they arrived.
Most of the designs highlight themes of international unity, dream realisation (in line with the Games’ One World, One Dream slogan) and the prospects of Beijing 2008.
Eighty Olympic-symbol flags will be hoisted around the city and at Matawai, Tolaga Bay and Ruatoria. The 110 pieces in the collection symbolise the 110 years of the modern Olympics.
Gisborne is the first city in the southern hemisphere to host the exhibition which also visited Seoul, Los Angeles, Lausanne and Rome and cities within China.
The exhibition is free to the public and will be open from 10am until 8pm each day from Sunday evening.
Timetable for Sunday 9 September
0600 Dawn ceremony at Whangara (no photography or filming)
0900 Official powhiri at Te Poho o Rawiri
1400 Exhibition open to media for filming/interviews
1700 Official Opening at Rose Gardens
Gisborne District Council
